Wheels Guru

Training, Travels, Racing – Motorcycles and Cars

History of KTM

Two wheelers in India is a highly preferred mode of transportation within cities and nothing much has changed in the last decade for the Indian motorcycle industry. Low-end performance motorcycles entered the market and have a good market share. Being the pioneer in commuting segments one such company which contributes to this segment is KTM. It is safe to say that KTM is the most loved motorcycle brand in this segment currently in India.

It has only 5 models :

  1. KTM Duke 250
  2. KTM Duke 200
  3. KTM Duke 390
  4. KTM RC 200
  5. KTM RC 390

Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen often abbreviated to KTM was established in the year 1934 by an Austrian engineer Johan Trunkenpolz and a business & racing enthusiast – Ernst Kronreif as a repair workshop in 1937. They became the official suppliers of DKW motorcycles (just a side note DKW is one of the four companies to merge and form Audi)

1938

By 1938 KTM became one of the biggest motorcycle and car repair workshops in Upper Austria.

1948

1948 saw the decline of the Austrian economy due to which the company’s repair orders dropped drastically. At that time only a few people could afford a car, therefore, Trunkenpolz decided to develop lightweight motorcycles.

1951

In 1951 the first major development commences the are hundred fitted with the 98 CC Rotax engine with pull starter goes into production.

1954

In autumn 1954 KTM attracted attention because aboard with the magic number 1000 was pinned at the handlebars of the are 125 tourists

1981

1981 to 1987 was a very fruitful period for KTM when water cooled motorcycles were developed and sold. many radiators bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles were manufactured and sold in the 1990s and became even leaner towards performance motorcycles

2008

2008 marks the arrival of KTM first true Superbike the KTM RC8 it threw up the rulebook in terms of design and handling performance

2007

KTM and Bajaj Auto formed a partnership in 2007. This was a huge moment and the relationship would go on to develop entry-level performing street motorcycles. In 2007 Bajaj Auto bought 14.5 percent stake in KTM thereby investing 1219 crores rupees and subsequently upped the stake to 48 percent in KTM between 2007 and 2012.

This investment has now tripled to 3896 crore rupees. KTM has helped Bajaj increased their market share in the 200 to 400 cc segment from just 10 percent to 59 percent in 2014.

KTM has achieved numerous milestones in this journey like winning the World Championship, Dakar Rally, Moto3, Motocross, MX2 and many more. When compiled this makes it more than 270 world championship titles today. Driven by the passion of its employees KTM group has already become the largest European manufacturer with an annual revenue in excess of 1.1 billion euros. It hopes to achieve the goal of reaching 300,000 units of annual production by 2020 by maximizing the synergies and resources of particular brands stakeholders and infrastructure little the group. With its ‘READY TO RACE’ tagline, KTM has left no stone unturned whether it is in racing rallying or manufacturing.

KTM consistently strives for better and better vehicles which have led to achieving highly satisfactory results.